62 Accreditation
North Idaho College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (the NWCCU) since 1947. The NWCCU is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The college’s most recent comprehensive review by the commission was its Mission Fulfillment and Sustainability evaluation in spring 2020. In June 2020, the NWCCU reaffirmed North Idaho College’s accreditation.
NIC was issued a Sanction of Warning by the NWCCU Board of Commissioners on April 1, 2022. Subsequently, it issued a Sanction of Show Cause in February 2023 because of issues relating to board governance and institutional integrity, specifically, the Board of Trustees. Federal regulations require that the college address issues underlying the initial Sanction by April 1, 2025. A sanction of Show Cause requires NIC to submit evidence on why NWCCU should not withdraw NIC’s membership.
On March 1, 2024, the NWCCU voted to continue the Sanction of Show Cause for NIC because the Evaluation Team’s Report from the Fall 2023 Special Visit stated that the NIC Board of Trustees had not made demonstrable progress in several key areas to address Recommendations from past NWCCU action letters.
The Commission approved a Plan for North Idaho College that includes eight non-compliant Recommendations identified in the March 1, 2024, Action Letter and provides guidance on the work and evidence required to return to good standing. The college must write a special ad-hoc report by September 2024 and prepare for an on-campus Ad-Hoc visit in October 2024.
In addition to the eight non-compliance recommendations, the college must address two recommendations considered “substantially in compliance but in need of improvement” in the Spring of 2025.
NIC continues to be under heightened monitoring by the NWCCU with ad hoc reports required if NIC staff provides any financial information to the NIC Board of Trustees during a convened meeting.
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Accreditation Show Cause Timeline
Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the NWCCU indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one that has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the NWCCU is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
An inquiry regarding North Idaho College’s accredited status by the NWCCU should be directed to the administrative staff of the college. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E.
Suite 200
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Accreditation Status
North Idaho College is a member institution with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). NIC’s accreditation status is Show Cause.
NWCCU’s most recent notification occurred on March 1, 2024, with the commission extending the Show Cause sanction.
NWCCU is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Find more information about NIC’s non-compliance review with the NWCCU from 2021 to present.
NWCCU Recommendations
North Idaho College is working toward compliance with the accreditation standards of the NWCCU as the college continues its work toward good standing.
The NWCCU has outlined specific recommendations for the college to return to good standing.
Please visit the NIC Accreditation site to learn more and/or to read the reports.